A MAN tried to use his son as leverage to force the traffic police to return his confiscated motorbike Saturday, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported yesterday.

    The father, surnamed Li, left his son at a traffic police station in Longhua New Area on Sunday and refused to get the boy when police contacted him.

    “I left my son there because I can barely make a living without my motorbike,” said Li, who is a single father. “I wanted to push the traffic police a little bit and maybe they would return the motorbike to me.”

    Li brought his son, identified as Yiyi, to the station when asking the police to return his motorbike. After the police refused to return the bike, Li decided to leave his son at the station in protest.

    Yiyi was discovered wandering the traffic police station Saturday. When asked why he was there, the 9-year-old boy said his father brought him by bus and told to him to “stay for a few days.”

    The policemen later learned Yiyi was left at the station in the afternoon. Li’s motorbike had been confiscated the day before for operating an unlicensed business.

    When Li did not return for Yiyi, the police sent the boy to the city’s juvenile rescue and protection center.

    The father arrived at the police station at around 10 in the evening. Li said he did not marry and is raising his son alone.

    Li said he believed that the police would take care of his son. Li said it was the police’s responsibility if Yiyi got lost.

    “We will not give up enforcing the law because of this kind of behavior,” said a traffic police officer at the Longhua station. “Anyone with an objection can apply for an administrative review, but irresponsible behavior like this won’t work.”

    Lawyers said that Li’s behavior has violated the law and Li may face a fine and detention.

    (Zhang Qian, He Meixia)